The same eight teams that made the playoffs out of the Eastern Conference last season are back this year. The order has changed as none of the first round matchups are rematches from last year. Like last season, the Bulls and Heat are the favorites in the East, with some thinking the old guard of the Celtics might be able to make one final run. The first round of the NBA playoffs is usually devoid of upsets, and I expect that trend to continue this season.First Round
#1 Chicago Bulls (50-16) vs. #8 Philadelphia 76ers (35-31)
The Bulls should not take the 76ers lightly, even with Philadelphia's late season swoon that dropped them to the 8th seed. The Sixers have given the Bulls fits when they have played the last couple of seasons. However, the Bulls confidence is sky high after winning 50 games during the strike shortened season and doing it for huge stretches of the year without their best player, PG Derrick Rose. Rose should be ready for the playoffs but Bulls fans have to be nervous about how rusty he might be after missing so much time with a litany of injuries. John Lucas and C..J Watson were able to manage the team in Rose's absence, while other players like Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson, and when he actually played, Richard Hamilton all stepped up. The Bulls have tremendous depth and that should serve them well in the playoffs.
The Sixers are led in scoring by PG Lou Williams, who actually plays behind fellow PG Jrue Holiday. Andre Iguodala saw his scoring numbers plunge this year, but his assists and rebounds were above his career average. PF Elton Brand isn't the scorer he used to be but he can still play good defense, and he along with Spencer Hawes can cause problems for teams in the paint. Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young provide the Sixers with some scoring off the bench.
This series will be a defensive slugfest, as neither team is proficient on offense but both are fantastic defensive teams. I think Rose trying to reintegrate himself into the lineup will cause the Bulls some problems in this series and allow the Sixers to make it interesting. Ultimately though the Bulls are too good to lose four game to Philadelphia.
Prediction: Bulls over 76ers, 4-2
#4 Boston Celtics (39-27) vs. #5 Atlanta Hawks (40-26)
The Celtics were expected to fall by the wayside this season with their big three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett supposedly being too worn down to deal with the fast paced schedule of the lockout shortened season. They started off the season very slowly, but following the All Star break they seemed to be a new team and climbed all the way up to the fourth seed and another division title. The Celtics were one of the worst scoring and rebounding teams in the league but with Rajon Rondo running the point, his play along with their fantastic defense has elevated the Celtics to title contention. PF Brandon Bass has played well, and the biggest surprise of the season for the Celtics was the emergence of SG Avery Bradley and his hard nosed defense.
The Hawks are where they seem to be every season, right in the middle of the pack, with the talent to win a First Round series, but not the talent to any further. Joe Johnson and Josh Smith are still the team's main offensive output, but still will disappear during stretches of games. PG Jeff Teague took a huge leap this year, doubling his career scoring average. The Hakws also have the corpses of Tracy McGrady and Jerry Stackhouse taking up minutes but not doing much else. They will be without Al Horford for this series, as they have been for all but 11 games this year.
This will be another defensive series and one that I expect home court will play a major role. Despite having the lower seed, the Hawks get homecourt advantaged based on finishing with a better record. I think home court will be served for most of the series, but come the decisive Game 7, the battle tested Celtics will win in Atlanta and move on.
Prediction: Celtics over Hawks, 4-3
#2 Miami Heat (46-20) vs. #7 New York Knicks (36-30)
This is the most anticipated series of the First Round in the Eastern Conference. For the Knicks sake hopefully that means more than last season, when they were supposed to give the Celtics trouble and instead were swept. The Knicks were up and down all season, their season falling off a cliff to start, before Jeremy Lin and Linsanity emerged and seemed to save Mike D'Antoni's job. Then Carmelo Anthony returned from injury, the team struggled and D'Antoni resigned. Following that, both Lin and Amar'e Stoudemire were hurt, and Anthony carried the team and got them into the playoffs. Stoudemire is back now, and while Lin is not expected to play in this series, they have to feel good about Anthony playing his best basketball since joining the Knicks last season.
The Heat and their Big 2 1/2 are still the focal point, while the rest of their guys are pretty much garbage. They still lack a point guard that can take over a game or even be much of a factor. They also remain weak at center where Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf get the bulk of the time. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are still both incredible and good enough themselves to carry the Heat far in the playoffs. The Heat also remain a strong defensive team and throw that in with the seventh best offense in the league and they are tough to beat, despite having no depth.
I think the Knicks will live up to the hype in this year's playoffs and provide a memorable series against Miami. This series certainly doesn't lack star power and it will basically come down to which team's superstars outplay the other team's superstars. I like James and Wade over Anthony and Stoudemire.
Prediction: Heat over Knicks, 4-2
#3 Indiana Pacers (42-24) vs. #6 Orlando Magic (37-29)
This is the series that will likely be relegated to NBA TV. Despite having the 5th best record in the NBA the Pacers are still under the radar, and the Magic will be without their superstar and top notch whiner, Dwight Howard for the entirety of the playoffs. The Pacers have six players that average double figures in scoring, with SF Danny Granger leading the way with 18.7 ppg. PF David West's scoring is down but he is playing well heading into the playoffs and has some playoff experience. C Roy Hibbert is one of the most improved players in the league and with the absence of Howard give the Pacers a huge advantage down low. Darren Collison got injured and then lost his starting point guard job to SG George Hill, who limits his turnovers better than Collison did.
The Magic may actually be pleased to be without the drama that Howard gave the team all season. With him out, the scoring load will be primarily taken over by PF Ryan Anderson. Anderson had a career year, and he can score both inside and out. SF Hedo Turkoglu will be back from his eye injury, and the Magic hope that the recent hot play of SGs Jason Richardson and J.J. Redick will continue. PF Glen "Big Baby" Davis will also to have a tremendous series, to make up for the absence of Howard.
The Pacers showed signs of their emergence in last year's playoffs when they gave the Bulls all they could handle in the First Round. This year, I think they take the next step and win a playoff series, helped by the Magic being without one of the best players in the league in Howard.
Prediction: Pacers over Magic, 4-2
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